Wanted Islamic extremist surrenders to Somali police

Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi, a leader with the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab who has a US$3 million bounty on his head, surrendered to police in Somalia on Saturday. An intelligence officer, who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media, said Hersi surrendered in the Gedo region. The officer said Hersi may have surrendered because he fell out with those loyal to Ahmed Godane, al-Shabab’s top leader who was killed in a U.S. airstrike earlier this year.

Our support for the people of Somalia, the African Union Mission in Somalia and Somali government forces in their efforts to defeat al-Shabaab will not waver.

U.S. State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf

Hersi was one of eight top al-Shabab officials whom the Obama administration offered a total $33 million in rewards for information leading to their capture in 2012. Despite suffering major losses such as losing major cities, al-Shabab remains a threat in Somalia and the East African region. The group has carried out many terror attacks in Somalia and some in neighboring countries including Kenya, whose armies are part of the African Union troops bolstering Somalia’s weak U.N.- backed government.

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